Breaking news
Formula 1
F1 needs rethink after hybrid rules "mistake", says Horner
Formula 1 is in need of a major rethink to regain its popularity after the "mistake" of the current turbo hybrid engine regulations, claims Red Bull boss Christian Horner.
Jonathan Noble
Published: Nov 28, 2015, 8:55 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
With F1's engine manufacturers having met in Abu Dhabi on Saturday to begin discussions about new rules for 2017 and beyond, there is a growing suggestion that the sport may need an overhaul.
Horner, whose outfit has risked being driven out of the sport because it struggled to get an engine deal in place, thinks the best F1 could do is work out exactly what it wants to become.
And he believes the situation has been exacerbated by teams protecting their competitive interests too much, at the expense of doing what is best for the sport.
“I suppose when you look at it, the teams have collectively been spectacularly incapable of coming up with solutions and sensible remedies to the problems,” explained Horner. “And I think the problem we face in Formula 1 is you’ve got vested interest.
“Within your own team you try to protect the elements that are your strengths, that offer you that competitiveness over your opponents.
"And I think this is where Formula 1 has tripped over itself over previous years and indeed, the engine formula that we’ve ended up with today arguably is a mistake.
“It’s expensive. The technology is fantastic but we’re not doing a great job of communicating that and I think it’s put a situation where probably half the grid is currently insolvent.
“I think there’s a fundamental question that needs to be answered and that is: what should Formula 1 be?”
Technology imbalance
Horner thinks that F1 has to do much better in working out how best to balance its entertainment values, while also making sure it maintains its technological position.
“I certainly believe that Formula 1 should be entertainment,” he said. “It should have a technological interest to it, but that needs the promoters and the owners of the sport, together with the regulators to decide what that product is, and come up with a set of rules, not let engineers write those rules.
“They [should] come up with those rules and put them in front of the teams and say 'that’s what Formula 1 is going to be and that’s what it should be for the future,' and they need to bring in some people with the right skillset to be able to define what those regulations are.
“And there’s good people that aren’t currently in employment within teams at the moment that are impartial, that come up with a set of regulations that are in the best interests of Formula 1, that’s going to provide the best show for the fans, for the public, for the paying spectators who are the backbone of what we do.
“Because without them there is no show, there is no Formula 1 and we need to get Formula 1 back to being a sport that is enthralling to the public.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Perez buoyed by "best Friday of the year"
Next article Mercedes demands FIA answers amid Ferrari wind tunnel row
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull drivers fear Mexico start, Max Verstappen jokes: “A Le Mans start would be just as quick”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Red Bull drivers fear Mexico start, Max Verstappen jokes: “A Le Mans start would be just as quick”
Latest news
Who slept best last night: Kimi Antonelli
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
4 min
Who slept best last night: Kimi Antonelli
FIA reveals revised Junior WRC for 2027
WRC
WRC WRC 15 min
FIA reveals revised Junior WRC for 2027
How MotoGP teams and riders are organising themselves for their arrival in Qatar
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
29 min
How MotoGP teams and riders are organising themselves for their arrival in Qatar
Mexico Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2026
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Mexico Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2026
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe